Air Force Commander pays tribute to Monath Perera

Published on: 2011-03-03 15:18:44

Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama visited the
family of Squadron Leader Monath Perera to pay his last respects
Yesterday (03 march 2011).The Commander conveyed his condolences to the
family.

Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir pilot, Flight Lieutenant Monath Perera who
lost his life on Monday (March 1), has been posthumously promoted to
the rank of Squadron Leader with effect from today. He was killed when
two Kfirs jets belonging to No. 10 Jet Squadron of SLAF Base
Katunayake, which were en route to the fly past rehearsal for the SLAF
60th anniversary, crashed near Yakkala.

The 2 jets
took off from SLAF Base Katunayake at around 9.10 am for fly past
rehearsals and crashed at 9.30 am, 6 km off Yakkala near the
Kirindiwela Road. Preliminary reports indicate a possible collision as
a cause for the crash of the two fighter jets which were flying in
tight formation at the time of the accident.

Flight
Lieutenant Monath Perera succumbed to his injuries as a result of the
crash which completely destroyed both aircraft. Flight Lieutenant
Monath Perera joined the Air Force in 2004 and served valiantly during
the Humanitarian Operations His untimely death is a great loss to No.
10 Jet Squadron.

Squadron Leader Vajira Jayakody who
piloted the other Kfir received minor scratches and was transferred to
the Colombo National Hospital for observation. Commander of the Air
Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama has appointed a Board of
Investigation headed by Air Vice Marshal Kapila Jayampathi to look into
the causes of the accident.

Tribute to
Squadron Leader Monath Perera

Squadron
Leader Monath Perera was born into this world on the 13th of October;
1982.After completing his education at Mahinda College, Galle, Moanth’s
passion for flying led him to enlist with the Sri Lanka Air Force on
the 1st of August in 2004.

His outgoing personality
made him a friend amongst many of his batch mates and this aspiring
young pilot moved a step closer to his dreams when he was commissioned
as a Pilot Officer on 08th of July in 2005. Barely two years later
Monath Perera was promoted as Flying Officer in January
2007.

Commencing his profession as an SLAF pilot in
the Flying Training Wing, Monath took a daring and challenging decision
to test waters in the fighter squadrons. This saw him firstly flying
the K-8 fighter jets and soon moving on to the F-7 in the No. 5 Jet
Squadron.

Monath was a valiant pilot who decided to
push his boundaries even further for the sake of serving his motherland
when he joined the iconic No. 10 Attack Jet Squadron to fly the Israeli
built Kfirs, which he has been attached to since 12 October, 2007,
participating bravely in the Humanitarian Operations. In 2010 Monath
was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

It
was in the very same domain, high up in the skies where he untimely
ended his life, leaving behind grieving family and friends. But his
immeasurable service will never be forgotten.

Sri
Lanka Air Force salutes this brave pilot whose memory and service will
be always cherished.Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir pilot, Flight Lieutenant Monath Perera who lost his life on Monday (March 1), has been posthumously promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader with effect from today. He was killed when two Kfirs jets belonging to No. 10 Jet Squadron of SLAF Base Katunayake, which were en route to the fly past rehearsal for the SLAF 60th anniversary, crashed near Yakkala.

The 2 jets took off from SLAF Base Katunayake at around 9.10 am for fly past rehearsals and crashed at 9.30 am, 6 km off Yakkala near the Kirindiwela Road. Preliminary reports indicate a possible collision as a cause for the crash of the two fighter jets which were flying in tight formation at the time of the accident.

Flight Lieutenant Monath Perera succumbed to his injuries as a result of the crash which completely destroyed both aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Monath Perera joined the Air Force in 2004 and served valiantly during the Humanitarian Operations His untimely death is a great loss to No. 10 Jet Squadron.

Squadron Leader Vajira Jayakody who piloted the other Kfir received minor scratches and was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for observation. Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama has appointed a Board of Investigation headed by Air Vice Marshal Kapila Jayampathi to look into the causes of the accident.